Top 100 Athlete Power Ranking - 2011

Awesome a list that comparing apples and oranges. This type of list never do justice for anyone.

I also agree that this list is BS and I love the fact that they ONLY list the sport as "olympics"

what I also think is funny, is that for "Boxing, Indy Car, F1, MMA, Tennis and Olympic Sports" the rankings are based on the players WORLD RANKING, but only US players are considered for the list... If anything, if its supposed to be US players only, then use their rankings in the US....

impressive to be #2 right behind peyton manning

Nobody is going to take this list seriously when Apolo Anton Ohno is #10.  That's the stupidest thing I've ever seen.  I will buy White at #3, though.  He's a little freak that now wears leather jackets when he rides, but he has a ton of influence right now.

Originally posted by skyfooze I don';t agree with this list. Whats with all of the golfers?!?!

white middle class males spend alot of money. i know, i know shocking stuff.

I don';t agree with this list. Whats with all of the golfers?!?!

Originally posted by Piranha Originally posted by Timmay_650 The article I read that said Kelly slater is really underrated. But I only saw the top 20. He was won 10 world champs. He is known around the world.    no doubt...that list is bs.  Slater just won his 10th world championship this past season, so he's like the most current version of micheal jordan or lance armstrong.  I would also go out on a limb and say, based on surfing's more intense physical demands, he's an much better conditioned athlete than shaun white tiger woods?...really?  Bet he wouldn't make it 15 minutes of surfing...or half day snowboarding ...and "olympics" isn't a sport.  why can't they just write "snowboarding"?

the list is done by business week so it's not about physical ability, but fiscal ability..as in the ability to make money...marketing, advertising, endorsements, etc. golfers are high on the list because golf is more of an international sport and their marketing reach is on a global level. same with tennis. football is the biggest sport in america, but it's not even a sport for most of the other countries. basketball is international, but there is only 1 dominant league, and its in america (and toronto). golf, tennis, olympic sports are all competitive at the international level where the leaders of the sport are all from differenty countries.

That list doesn't reflect the reality...

 Pac-man and Jeter didn't make the top 20 but they are in the top 100. The criteria for these things is crazy subjective. In one of the many articles explaining the methodology behind this they reveal that if said athlete is dating a supermodel than his power rankings would be increased significantly (aka Tom Brady) The Olympics provide world wide exposure which many American sports do not so that is probably why the Olympic athletes get so much recognition. Heck I didn't even know Shaq still played, but he is definitely one of the most recognized names ever in basketball due to his size mostly. Shaun probably gets a lot of his recognition from being a souless ginger.

Is this based off of just 2011 accomplishments/endorsements or lifetime?

SW is all over the place, Target, Commercials, anywhere Burton is sold.  Very nice to see an "extreme" sport star that highly recognized.  The sad part is there are so many others pretty much at his level that could walk right by 99.9% of the population and not get noticed.

i agree with above... Pacquiao really should be on the list in terms of impact on his own specific sport..

Originally posted by solocreep Surprised Pacquiao or Jeter didnt make the list.

There are a bunch they are not there that have to be.  How does a speed skater make the top 20 and Pac-man isn't on there? 

yeah, some "power" list...

Yeah, White is a bit high, as is Vonn. Definitely not hating on these people, but think having the Winter Olympics last year helped.

Originally posted by adeodadus I can understand justification for most of the list except for # 10 Apolo Anton Ohno : Seriously.. people don't really watch his Olympic events vs say Phelps (swimming).  I would bet more people recognize #11 to 20 than what Apolo does or event in the Olympics.. What does that say about this power ranking made up by Businessweek?  under researched and copied(other AP sources), like most things done by BW.

You seem to forgot his legion of fan girls and even fan boys.  Apolo has been a household name way before Phelps, which is probably why Apolo won the Dancing with the Stars competition because all those ladies go gaga over him. 

I can understand justification for most of the list except for # 10 Apolo Anton Ohno : Seriously.. people don't really watch his Olympic events vs say Phelps (swimming).  I would bet more people recognize #11 to 20 than what Apolo does or event in the Olympics..

What does that say about this power ranking made up by Businessweek?  under researched and copied(other AP sources), like most things done by BW.

not to be jumping on band wagons or anything... but how could Kobe possibly be lower on the power charts than Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James.....? unless when they say power they only mean raw physical power.......... =.=

Originally posted by rishihb hmm.. I don't really understand their definition of power. If its just on field performance, I don't see how Tiger hasn't fallen more than to 3, and how Michael Phelps isn't higher. If its also about success off the field (like net worth, endorsements) Tiger is the first billionaire athlete, so he should be #1 by far.

Because while Tiger didn't win like Tiger, he still places well he just didn't win. Also because it's based off performances AND endorsement as well.

hmm.. I don't really understand their definition of power. If its just on field performance, I don't see how Tiger hasn't fallen more than to 3, and how Michael Phelps isn't higher. If its also about success off the field (like net worth, endorsements) Tiger is the first billionaire athlete, so he should be #1 by far.

It's latte, and i'm tired. 

Shaun in know way represents snowboarding.
http://vimeo.com/19237524

Eli Manning really?

Looking at that list and seeing how many golfers are on there (and how many top the list) demonstrates this has nothign to do with power in the traditional sports sense of physical ability.